DCCCD Chancellor Discusses Pending Retirement - March 2013

(DALLAS) — Dr. Wright Lassiter Jr., chancellor of the Dallas County Community College District, today discussed his previously announced intention to retire at the end of the year with members of the DCCCD board of trustees during the group’s regular monthly meeting.

Lassiter, who served as president of El Centro College for 20 years before he became the district’s chancellor in 2006, thanked trustees for extending his contract last year through Dec. 31, 2013, and added that he is willing to remain chancellor until his successor is chosen.

“I simply want to remind you that I intend to retire at the end of this year so that you can begin the search process for my successor. I also am willing to serve beyond this year until you choose my replacement,” said Lassiter.

He added, “I wish to express my thanks to the board for their support throughout my tenure. We, as a district, are in a very good position, but we still have work to do, and we must remain on task as the search process moves forward and as we prepare for the future.”

Following Lassiter’s comments, the DCCCD board of trustees took its first steps in the search process by unanimously electing board member Bob Ferguson to serve as chair of the search committee and by agreeing that they would serve as the executive committee for the larger search committee. The board members will meet as a group to discuss the search process and the membership for the full search committee before their regular monthly meeting in April. The trustees are expected to conduct a national search for the next chancellor.

A 20 percent growth in enrollment and the completion of a $450 million bond program are two of many major achievements during Lassiter’s tenure as chancellor.